Hyundai KONA: Sub-compacts deliver a true SUV experience with four-wheel drive

Hyundai KONA

The All-New Hyundai KONA launches soon as the smallest member of Hyundai’s SUV family and when it arrives in showrooms, car-buyers will have the option of four-wheel drive for a true SUV experience.

The rise of the sub-compact SUV
Since bursting onto the car scene a few years ago, sub-compact SUVs like the All-New KONA have surged in popularity for a number of reasons. Though smaller than large compact SUVs, they offer similar qualities but in a smaller package. Drivers of these B-segment vehicles enjoy more cargo space than sub-compact sedans and hatchbacks. With raised ride heights and tall body structures, these roomy crossover cars provide drivers with a commanding driving position and an overview of the road. They also tend to be lighter in weight, making them more nimble to drive. These traits make them ideal for shoppers or city-dwellers who want to enjoy the versatility of an SUV, but favour affordability and saving money at the petrol pump over expansive interior space.

The All-New KONA also offers optional four-wheel drive (4WD), which ensures that each wheel receives power from the engine at the same time. 4WD vehicles also have increased stability, and are capable of more power and traction on a range of different roads, from the challenges of rough surfaces, to those that change depending on weather conditions.

4WD enables drivers to tackle challenging terrain
The higher level of traction that cars with 4WD receive gives them an advantage over all 2WD vehicles when it comes to tackling difficult terrain. Unlike standard cars, SUVs like the Hyundai Tucson and Hyundai Santa Fe allow drivers to reach otherwise inaccessible locations deep into the countryside via steep slopes or driving through sand or mud. Its 4WD system generates extra power to each wheel, allowing the vehicle to gain the momentum needed to remain stable in slippery conditions. Both the Tucson and Santa Fe boast large tyres which allow for extra grip, allowing them to cover more ground than a standard 2WD.

Earlier this year, a team of adventurers including the great-grandson of legendary polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton became the first to cross the Antarctic continent in a passenger car: a modified Santa Fe. This included fitting giant heavy duty low-pressure tyres so that it could float over the rugged, icy surface. Meanwhile, the car’s body was raised with new sub-frames and suspension, and gears were fitted inside the wheel hubs to cope with the different forces and the need to turn more slowly to run at the same speed.

The KONA provides a true SUV experience with 4WD
Even though it’s a sub-compact car, the All-New KONA delivers a true SUV experience to customers. It features an elevated seating position, drivers have more control behind the wheel, as well as better visibility of the road in front. This also makes it easier for them to spot any potential hazards ahead.

The KONA’s optional 4WD enhances its ride and handling characteristics by providing extra stability and keeping the highest traction on rough, loose, or slippery surfaces while enhancing cornering performance. As well as this, the additional weight gives passengers added protection in the case of any collisions. 4WD vehicles achieve approximately double the amount of tyre grip than those with 2WD, as they won’t spin when the vehicle starts or accelerates.

Named after the Kona district on the Big Island of Hawaii, the All-New KONA also has a progressive design and premium features. The KONA is Hyundai Motor’s fourth SUV in Europe, alongside the Tucson, Grand Santa Fe and Santa Fe. It is the brand’s first foray into the B-segment SUV market.

courtesy: www.hyundai.news

The All-New Hyundai KONA. You drive it. You define it.

all-new-kona-exterior-2017

all-new-kona-exterior-2017

Since the launch of Santa Fe in 2001 Hyundai Motor sold more than 1.4 Million SUVs in Europe becoming an established brand in the SUV segment. The Tucson is the fastest selling SUV of Hyundai in Europe with more than 200,000 sales since launch in 2015. Now, Hyundai Motor is extending its SUV family to four members including the Grand Santa Fe, Santa Fe and Tucson by entering the B-SUV segment.The All-New KONA is a real SUV with a bold and progressive design, premium features, accessible connectivity and latest safety technologies. It expresses the lifestyle of modern urban customers and is a confident statement of who you are: You drive it, You define it.

The All-New Hyundai KONA is an important milestone for Hyundai Motor Europe on its way to becoming the leading Asian automotive brand in Europe by 2021 with the launch of 30 new models and derivatives.

Sleek, sharp exterior

The All-New KONA’s front is expressive and powerful, adopting Hyundai Motor’s new family identity, the Cascading Grille. New twin headlamps enhance the visual impact, with the LED Daytime Running Lights positioned on top of the LED headlights. The separated lights at the front deliver a confident, progressive appearance with sleek, sharp shapes. A bold front and rear are emphasised by the car’s wide stance and its voluminous, aggressive body styling. The KONA’s two-tone roof and the choice of ten distinctive exterior colours offer many individual combinations for almost every individual style.

Elegantly tailored interior

The interior is characterised by smooth surfaces on top of the instrument panel that give it a sensuous and refined feel while dark painted parts represent the technological and rugged character. This is complemented by considerable roominess and visibility. A choice between different-accent colours and matching coloured stitching on the seats and steering wheel show the refinement and attention to detail that went into the development of the sophisticated interior.

State-of-the-art powertrains and four-wheel drive

Right from the start, the KONA offers the choice between two turbocharged, small-displacement petrol powertrains with high low-end torque and excellent fuel efficiency: a 1.0-litre T-GDI with a 6-speed manual transmission (MT) and 120 PS (88 kW) (fuel consumption combined (preliminary target value): 5.3 l/100 km; CO2 combined (preliminary target value): 119 g/km*) as standard and a high-power 1.6-litre T-GDI with 177 PS (130 kW) and Hyundai’s self-developed 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (7DCT) and four-wheel drive (fuel consumption combined (preliminary target value): 7.3 l/100 km; CO2 combined (preliminary target value): 169 g/km*). The optional four-wheel drive of the KONA supports drivers in all kinds of driving situations with up to 50% torque at the rear wheels, e.g. on snow, gravel and of course on regular road surfaces. In the summer of 2018 Hyundai will be launching its next generation of efficient 1.6-litre diesel powertrains for the KONA, also available with 6-Speed MT or Hyundai’s efficient, direct-responding 7DCT, with optional four-wheel-drive.

Head-up display and the choice of connectivity

For the first time in a Hyundai, the KONA’s new head-up display projects relevant driving information directly into the driver’s line of sight. Its class-leading luminance and eight-inch image size enable not only effortless daylight visibility but also the faster processing of information while keeping attention on the road ahead.

A very high degree of connectivity for smart devices also adds to the All-New KONA’s appeal. The optional eight-inch infotainment system integrates all navigation, media and connectivity features, supporting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system comes with a seven-year free subscription to LIVE Services, offering updated information in real time: weather, traffic, speed cameras and online searches for points of interest. Another Hyundai first in the KONA is Display Audio: passengers have the option of switching their smartphone’s content on to the system’s seven-inch display via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. With this function they can use the phone’s built-in navigation capabilities, make phone calls, dictate messages or listen to their favourite music. The system provides entry-level customers with more accessible connectivity.

An optional wireless inductive charging pad (Qi standard) for mobile phones allows passengers to charge their smartphones conveniently on the move.

Latest safety features and high-strength steel body

While the All-New KONA is designed for people with active, individual lifestyles, it also seriously cares about its passengers. The list of safety features includes Hyundai Motor’s Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Alert, Static Bending Light and Smart High Beam.

Hyundai Motor is the only car manufacturer to make its own steel for the global production of its vehicles, with great benefits for the All-New KONA, i.e. a strong, light body that enhances the dynamic performance and increases passenger safety through the use of high-strength steel, a broad appliance of hot stamping and 115 metres of structural adhesive.

courtesy: www.hyundai.news